University Grant-In-Aid Committee

PURPOSE AND MISSION

The University has limited funds available to support faculty research projects. These funds are allocated to applicants by the University Grant-in-Aid Committee, which has delegated to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies authority to grant applications for less than $2,000. Applications are accepted throughout the school year. The forms are available from the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, 116 McMahon Hall.

Grant-in-Aid funding is available to support any appropriate and necessary expenses related to a faculty member’s research. The most common uses of Grant-in-Aid funds include:

• Compensating student research assistants;

• Subsidizing printing, copying and lithographing costs;

• Purchasing required instruments or equipment;

• Reimbursing travel expenses that are essential for a definite research project. Travel expenses related to professional conferences are generally not considered for these grants. (Please note: All faculty members in the School of Arts and Sciences must apply for travel expense reimbursement with their Dean's office before approaching the University Grant-in-AId Committee. The School of Arts and Sciences maintains a separate dedicated fund for faculty travel expenses.)

Please itemize your request as much as possible. If your grant request includes travel, please itemize expenses, justify, and specifically describe what research will be done during the travel. The proposed research, or that portion funded by the grant, must be completed within six months and a report filed with the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. University policy requires that all reports must be submitted before new applications for Grant-in-Aid funding from the same faculty member(s) are considered.

Any faculty member appointed as tenure-track is qualified to receive a Grant-in-Aid. Therefore, it is not necessary to include a curriculum vitae with the application. However, to assist the application process, please attach 1 to 3 pages that show your most recent scholarly activity. This is to get a sense of your area of current research interests, productivity, and the results of any previous grants or Grant-in-Aid awards received in the past.

Special consideration will be given to applications that will support research likely to generate ongoing research funded by the government or private donors. Grant-in-Aid funding should also reasonably support research across disciplines.

At this time, Grant-in-Aid funding is not available for the following situations:

• Supporting faculty development activities such as attendance at professional workshops or taking private courses, seminars, or training sessions;

• Supplementing or providing salary considerations for the applicant;

• Applying on behalf of graduate students.

When resources are inadequate to satisfy all legitimate requests, the following factors will be considered:

• The stage of the applicant’s academic career. Grant-in-Aid funding should be used to encourage new faculty members to pursue their research agenda, with non-tenured faculty on the tenure track receiving priority for Grant-in-Aid funding consideration;

• The number of prior grants the applicant has received and the outcomes of those projects;

• The probability that other sources of funding may be available for the specific research project.

Note: Grant-in-Aid funding cannot be used to supplement or provide salary for the applicant, but can be used to hire graduate students as research assistants specifically for the professor's project.

MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY GRANT-IN-AID COMMITTEE (2014-2015 ACADEMIC YEAR)

Mr. Ralph Albano: Associate Provost for Research and Director of Technology Transfer